Art and Photography Blog

Photos of London March 2009 Part Two

Here are more photos from my London visit in late March of this year. You can click on the photo to enlarge it.

Photos of London March 2009

Here are some photos taken in London late March this year. The first picture shows the front of Cambio de Tercio in South Kensington where we had lunch our first day. The next one is their calamari. The after that is their cod tapa. This is followed by a shot of King's Road in Chelsea, my old neighborhood. You can click on the picture to enlarge it.

Photos of the English Countryside in the Cotswolds: Part Two

Here is the part two of photos from the Cotswolds. You can click on any picture to enlarge it.

Painting of Two Italian Greyhounds Further Revised

I put in a blue background to make the dogs stand out more in this 18" x 24" acrylic painting. Here is how it was before with off white background.

Photos of the English Countryside in the Cotswolds: Part One

The Cotswolds is on the many beautiful areas in the English countryside. There are many one track roads that are often only wide enough for one car. Here are some photos of the area as we drove through in late March. There will be more photos later this week.

Gustave Caillebotte, An Impressionist Friend

I have seen Caillebotte's paintings before and liked them but could not remember his name. The New York Times recently did a nice review of a Gustave Caillebotte show through July 5 at the Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, at Prospect Park; (718) 638-5000. There is a useful set of nine images of his work I especially liked The Floor Scrapers,” “House Painters,” and “Oarsmen Rowing on the Yerres.” All three have a very strong use of color and interesting perspective. Some of the others are more diffuse and are not as strong in my view. This is a show I want to see in person.

Caillebotte became an artist late in life, enrolling at the École des Beaux-Arts, but soon left. He was largely self-taught and moved back and forth between Paris and the family estate in the village of Yerres, painting what he found. He was rich so he just did what he wanted. The Times writes that, “he visited the first Impressionist salon in 1874. When the second one took place two years later, the artists involved, including Monet, Renoir, Sisley, Cézanne and Degas, welcomed his participation.”

Gustave repaid their hospitality with patronage. “He organized exhibitions for them, promoted their careers, paid their rent (Monet survived on his generosity for years) and bought their paintings, amazing things, out of the studio. He bequeathed his collection to the French government, with the stipulation that it be put on public view. Part of it became the foundation of what is now the Musée d’Orsay.” This is one of my favorite museums so I am grateful for this effort. Calliebotte did not paint long so I ma also grateful for this show which mostly came from private collections.

Painting of Two Dogs Revised

Here are our two Italian greyhounds. They are both about a year old and rescue dogs. This is acrylic and is 18" by 24". It is my first painting in over a year. I got some better brushes and revised it.

Photos of Two English Breakfasts in the Cotswolds

Here are photos of two wonderful English breakfasts I had when I was in the Cotswolds west of London in March. We stayed at the Swan Hotel in Bibury. First there is a, a traditional English breakfast then and one with Kippers. I was also impressed with the napkin fold – see below. Recommend the area and this place. Nice food at dinner also.